Meet Rose Mackenzie, the Filmmaker & Photographer Capturing Moments That Spark Joy

“Self-Portrait” by Rose Mackenzie

Tell us about yourself. 

I'm Rose, I'm 18 and I am a first-year uni student in Adelaide, South Australia.

How did you get into photography & filmmaking? 

It goes way back. My earliest memory is getting an iPod nano for a birthday one year ago. It had a video camera on it, and I would say that was my first camera. I filmed random things on it after school and at dance concerts and things like that, when I was nine, maybe ten, and I think that sparked something in me that loves to document my life. A few years on, circa 2014, I got a GoPro and filmed every moment of my summer that year with my cousins. From there, videography for me turned into making edits of holidays and became more serious once I got my first DSLR at the end of my first year in high school. Photography and videography simultaneously grew from that point into a hobby and shortly into my main area of study today!

How would you describe your style of photography? 

Forever changing. It has been years since I first picked up a camera, but I still do not know how to describe my style. I like to think it is a little experimental, a little bit funky, but I am also trying new things and photographing different subjects all the time.

How has the way you take photos evolved over the years? 

I feel like I have become a lot more confident and creative with the way I take photos, more intentional even. My photographs are a bit of a mixture of the simple moments and crazy colourful concepts I come up with in my head and try to bring to life.

Do you have any favourite photographers? 

The list goes on and on. A constant favourite since discovering her work is Lauren Tepfer, I just adore her photos of suburban America and the nostalgia she creates. Willem Verbeeck and his timeless photographs is another favourite of mine.

Do you prefer photography or filmmaking more?

Can't decide! and I've never felt like I've had to choose one or the other which is so great. I find myself doing little photoshoots more often than filmmaking but I would really love to focus more on filmmaking in the near future!

What camera/s do you use? 

I use a Nikon D3400 which is the same camera I started out with, it's taken me a long way! As well as a Nikon F80 when shooting on film.

Do you shoot film or digital? - if film do you have a favourite type eg. Portra, Ultramax, fuji etc. 

Both! I started shooting on film in 2019 and instantly started loving the photos I was making way more than any digital ones I was taking. I think just that extra thought and meaning that goes into each frame makes all the difference. Porta 400 has my heart and has been my favourite film to shoot so far.

Are you currently studying at the moment? If so, what? 

Yes! I am in my first year at the University of Adelaide studying a Bachelor of Media with a major in Story Production. It's new and it's exciting and I am very keen to see where it takes me.

Do you have a favourite photoshoot that you’ve done or a favourite photo? 

I did a photoshoot of myself on my bedroom floor late at night one night. I think it's one of my favourites because it was the first time I had a crack at self-portraits, and I had so much fun with it too. The final result exceeded all of my expectations, which was super rewarding, and it was just so cool to be in front of the camera for a change.

How do you feel being a woman going into an unfortunately male-dominated field? 

At times it's a little hard to think about and a bit disappointing at this day in age, but other times it's somewhat exciting. There's an opportunity to try and break through the male-dominated norms and be a part of a great change. It's great to see change already happening. The Academy recognising Chloé Zhao and Emerald Fennell's directing this year, compared to the zero female directing nominations last year, is great to see as a young woman, however, there is still a long way to go!

What/who inspires you? 

I get inspiration from just about anywhere. 2020 was a big year for me to complete high school and a lot of my creative projects were inspired by John Hughes films. That idea of coming of age and identity is always present in my personal projects. Generally speaking, I always feel inspired listening to music and most notably listening to film scores. They always give me chills! There is something about them that inspires me and excites me to keep working towards my future in the creative industry. 

Portraits of Zane, Angus and Jack captured by Cam Liu

What’s your process when planning a shoot or film? 

Most shoots I do are for fun, and they just start in my head, and I whip them up in my bedroom with colourful lighting and fun sets. But if I am ever working with a team or somebody else, it's all about communication and understanding the vision everyone wants.

What’s your musical taste like? 

Super broad, I would say. If you take one look at my Spotify Wrapped from 202,0, you'll see the top song is Danny Elfman's "Ice Dance" from Edward Scissorhands, and the last song is "She" by Harry Styles. I love finding songs that just make me feel something. Every year, I feel like there are a few songs I always come back to and will always end up in my current playlist, and those are so special. In 2018, I discovered The Supremes, The Drifters, The Crystals, Sinatra, you name it, and every year since then, I've loved finding more music from the era. It is just so beautiful.

Do you have a favourite film or television series?

Back to the future has been my answer to this question for as long as I can remember. It's a class, in and I will love it forever, er, no matter how many times I watch it. La La Land also has a special place in my heart and is one of the films I watched and thought, "Hey, I think this is what I'm meant to do in life" I think I've watched just about every behind-the-scenes video for it! I just love how it was a passion project for Damien Chazelle. As for TV, I loved Euphoria! I loved the story, but I was just infatuated with how it was made. So unique, I had never seen cinematography like that in a television series. I loved it so much I wrote my first University assignment on it!

Do you have any advice you’d give to your younger self or someone who wants to pursue a career like yours? 

I think there is no better advice than just going for it! I would tell my younger self and even myself 6 months ago that it is more than fine to not know where you wanna go or how you're gonna get there, I'm a firm believer in everything happens for a reason, so enjoy the journey and see where it will take you.

Do you have any upcoming projects that you’d like people to know about? 

Nothing specific, but there is always something I'm working on!

@RROSE.JPG